Profit - the big corporations want to make as much money as possible. Plus there is fraud and waste. The doctors keep trying to charge higher and higher prices so they can see what their limits are, to make up for the things that the insurance company doesn't cover.

I had never felt the pangs of health insurance taking for granted when I was married the simple luxury of a full time job and coverage. ONly now: divorced and looking for a job do I realize the injury that we face without health care. I had to fall to understand the realm of suffering, but it's been a great costly teacher.

I think your answer is one reason for high insurance costs, but there are several others. It always amazes me, though, to talk to people who have never been sick and assume they never will be sick. What CAN they be thinking??

Insurance companies are 'rolling the dice' that they won't need to pay out on a claim when an insured is injured, and injured big. Unfortunately when the insurance company needs to pay out on big settlements, everyone's premiums go up.

The cost of health care is going up, up, and up some more; what normally might be a doctor's office visit for $25 (not a co-pay) is now $150 + the cost of mega tests and insurance is billed. We only have the $25; insurance has the $125. Multiply that by the number of doc visit/day/country...(and that doesn't include the cost of hospitalization or specialists)

Young and healthy like you mention who think they're omnipotent don't help matters AT ALL, illegals make up a significant portion of uninsured as do underinsured and we all pay for either lack of insurance or underinsurance. In addition, we have laws that state that NOONE can be turned away from the ER for lack of insurance. Hospital eats the cost and passes it on to the insurance company who passes the costs on to us, the consumer.

We have an aging population and their care is more complicated and usually more expensive. More people with chronic illnesses live longer (a good thing), but their care costs more and again insurance passes their costs on to us. And I'm sure there are many more reasons.

But I think the number one reason is the need for tort reform, because such huge awards are given to people in malpractice cases. Sure, these people deserve just recompense, but not billions of dollars for a stubbed toe. It is for this reason that doctors and nurses have to have malpractice insurance and the cost to that insurance is passed on.

One: Patients are requesting test that they do not need. ("I would like an MRI") They request these even if the doctor says they do not need one.

Two: Malpractice Insurance. If the doctor in the above answer refuses to give the MRI above and the person has the unlikely problem that the MRI would have caught, they are sued and have to pay more malpractice insurance.

Three: Lawsuits. Doctors order more test to cover themselves because they may be sued, thus increasing their cost. This is why some people are pursing for a "loser pays" tort reform.

Four: Technology. The U.S. does a lot of research in medical care. We have to use these new procedures otherwise; you cannot justify the cost of the research, thus raising the prices of health care. New always cost more.

Five: Interstate commerce. Insurance companies cannot sell insurance across state lines; therefore, they must open locations and navigate bureaucracy in every state before they can sell insurance there. This cost money; hence, your cost goes up.

Finally, the nature of insurance has changed. It used to be used to "insure your" against costly procedures, i.e. I feel off a ladder and have a compound fracture in my leg. Whereas now, people think of insurance as I can pay this monthly insurance premium and go to the doctor whenever I feel it necessary and I will only have to pay $30.

These are not all the reason, but the ones I could think of off the top of my head.

The amount you pay for your health insurance can sometimes go up with no apparent warning. Understanding the most common reasons for these spikes can help you better plan for your financial future. read more

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